Karen Olivia V. Jimeno

Undersecretary for Legal Affairs and Priority Projects

jimeno.karen@dpwh.gov.ph

+632-304-3255

She holds a law degree from the University of the Philippines, where she graduated Cum Laude, and a Masters of Law degree from Harvard Law School. She is licensed to practice law in the Philippines and in New York.

She was a defense lawyer and spokesperson for the impeachment trial of then Chief Justice Renato Corona in 2012.

She served as Head for External Affairs & Communications for the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery, alongside Senator Panfilo Lacson, from 2014-2015 under the Office of then President Benigno Aquino III. In 2017, she was appointed as Legal Counsel for the Senate Ethics Committee for the 17th Congress.

As a professor of law for over 9 years, she has taught at the JD program of the University of the Philippines and Centro Escolar University, and is currently a professor at the San Beda Graduate Law School's Master of Laws program. She is also a lecturer for the Legal Education Board and the Special Intelligence Training School of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Her media experience includes being a program host and news anchor for CNN Philippines for 5 years, and a columnist for the Philippine Star newspaper from 2012 up to the present.

In 2016, she was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte as Undersecretary for Legal Affairs and Priority Projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Responsibilities:

The Undersecretary for Legal Affairs and Priority Projects shall have overall supervision and control over the Legal Service (LS), and the Stakeholders Relations Service (SRS). She shall likewise supervise and oversee projects, programs, and activities requiring focused and expeditious execution, or which are considered priority, as may be assigned by the Secretary.

Other Assignment:

DPWH Alternate Representative to the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) Board of Directors